Jamaica's Usain Bolt reacts after his second-round run in the men's 100 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin yesterday. - Photo by Oliver Wright

BERLIN, Germany:

While the globe may already be convinced the men's sprint titles at the IAAF World Championships of Athletics (WCA) here can only be won by one of two athletes, other competitors are unwilling to concede defeat and some may even be quietly fuming over what they perceive as disrespect for their abilities.

Following the first two rounds of the 100 metres on yesterday's WCA opening day, several sprinters admitted that they were not being given much chance to win the event as nearly all the buzz was centred on Jamaica's Usain Bolt, the world-record holder, and reigning World champion Tyson Gay of the United States.

They may have a point. Gigantic photographs of Bolt and Gay in action have been slotted across this city and the press crowd was noticeably thicker in the media mixed zone after both men ran in the heats. It might be playing on some competitors' mind.

two-man matchup

"It doesn't affect me, but it affects everybody else," St Kitts and Nevis' Kim Collins, the 2003 WCA champion in the 100 metres, said of the Bolt-Gay hype after his first round heat.

"They always have it as a two-man match-up. It's like 96 of us came here. So for them to do that, it's a little bit disrespectful to most people. But me, it doesn't matter."

Even big names, like former world record holder Asafa Powell and 2005 WCA silver medallist Michael Frater of Jamaica, have not been popularly factored to come between Bolt and Gay. But Powell sounded his own warning not to be ignored by winning his second round heat in 9.95 seconds, the fastest time of the day, while Frater (10.09) also advanced to the today's semi-finals by finishing second to Gay in round two.

Others sprinters are also eager to back themselves, at least publicly. American Darvis 'Doc' Patton, who has had a good season in 2009, refused to acknowledge a diminished status. He doesn't believe any of the other sprinters should either.

"Under the radar?" he asked rhetorically after his first race. "I don't think anybody here is under the radar. I know the main focus is on Tyson and Usain ... Everybody had hard work and preparation to get here, so there's a chance for anybody to win ... I'm here, so anything is possible."

But Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson, who was runner-up to Bolt in the 100 metres at the 2009 Olympics and finished second in round two to Britain's Dwain Chambers yesterday, has chosen another route. He acknowledged that this season has not been his best, partly because his preparation was disrupted by a car accident in January, and that his performances have done little to promote him as a viable title contender. But he believes, based on his show at the Olympics, he still has the pedigree to be a medal candidate.

"This season has been a bit rough for me, but the truth is I'm a championship racer and I got myself ready for this one," said Thompson. "So hopefully, I could see some good results."

Chambers, who acknowledged the hype surrounding Bolt and Gay, said it could be dangerous for other sprinters to pay too much attention to the super matchup. His focus, will be on one person - himself.

"Well, that's the destruction for them, you know," said Chambers. "They're caught up in that whirlwind and I'm very aware of what is going on and the attention is gonna be focused on (Bolt and Gay). But for me I just do what I do.

"I can't really vouch for others," he added. "I just have to concentrate on myself ... It's gonna work for me and that's how I believe and that's how I work."

'anybody can do it'

Both Bolt and Gay weren't really challenged yesterday, although Gay battled a "sore" groin in his first two rounds and Bolt comfortably settled for second to Antigua and Barbuda's Daniel Bailey in his second run. Yet, Gay's admission to a continuing "sore" groin offers a sign that the predicted Bolt-Gay top two finish is not nearly a done deal.

Meanwhile, several other sprinters believe the real test can only come in today's final and it may not be only from the two favourites. The anticipation of Bolt vs Gay could work to the advantage of others in the field, said Collins, who was eliminated after the second round, because "anybody can do it ... (Bolt and Gay) are gonna match up themselves, they could end up and eliminate each other."

Either way, the 100 metres final should definitely be one the world wants to see.

Personal best performances from Bolt (9.69 seconds), Powell (9.72) and Gay (9.77) is clearly enough evidence they'll get their wish - unless someone else can crash the hype party.

"Trust me," said Collins with a wide grin, "it's gonna be some fireworks. You can be sure of that."